The Flower of Scotland lyrics?

Question

When The Flower of Scotland is played before a rugby match, I often hear on TV that the crowd are chanting something right after the line "...that stood against him". What are they actually chanting?

Answer 1

As the first answer stated, it is written to commemorate the victory of the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce over Edward's ll in 1314!

The last 2 lines are sung louder, especially before an English match, as the "sent him homewards to think again"!

O flower of Scotland

When will we see your like again

That fought and died for

Your wee bit hill and glen

And stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again

The hills are bare now

And autumn leaves lie thick and still

O'er land that is lost now

Which those so dearly held

And stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again

Those days are passed now

And in the past they must remain

But we can still rise now

And be the nation again

That stood against him

Proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward

Tae think again

Answer 2

The song was written in 1967 by the late Roy Williamson of The Corries.

The line you are referring to is the "against who" - this started being added at football and rugby matches and has stuck!

Answer 3

Its all about how they beat the English under Edward II in a battle a long long time ago. (Not difficult as Edward wasn't a very strong or successful king - in fact he was killed in the end by the English themselves in a very brutal and painful way)

being about an ancient and forgotten battle you might therefore imagine it's an old traditional song but it isn't - it was written in 1970's.

Now why would anyone in the 1970's bother to write a jingoistic nationalistic song about a 600 year old battle?  You'd have to be Scottish and with a giant chip on your shoulder and a racist attitude towards anyone from south of their border to imagine why.

Not also sure why they chose to describe Scots soldiers as 'flowers' but it gives everyone else a laugh.

As for what they are chanting - it's all out there in Google but if they can't manage to chant it clearly so that others can hear it should we really care?

Answer 4

that stood against him, proud edward's army, and sent him homeward, tae think again.